Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

liven42day

HI Ladies,

Kaye I am so glad your lump is fat, fat we can deal with!

Carol, my deepest sympathy for you and your family.

Lorene, I would call Onc and ask them, feel better soon.

Nash, Scarves work best for me also, can't be bothered with the wig until it gets colder outside........lol

Kidsmom, I think we are very close to the same tx schedule, CONGRATULATIONS on your last A/C!

Woohoo we are half way done, are you doing dose dense? I am getting a little chicken about the Taxol, but with all the decadron, I pray for no allergic reaction to it.

Sorry if I forgot anyone, but we are all getting there!

Take Care Ladies, Each day we get closer to the end of tx, Charlene

lori5

carol im so sorry to read about your loss.  Going thought tx's are hard enough without adding any new stresses.  I hope that you find rest and peace so that your energy level returns.  I too have noticed a funny smell to me.  I keep asking my dh if he smells it and he says no.  I keep saying everything about me is different and now my smell we just cant win for losing can we.

Hugs and prayers

Lori 

emg326

H All,

Carol, I too, am so sorry for your loss. Please take care of yourself and take it easy. I had my second tx of TC today. I'm halfway there!! I'm tired, but I think it's due to not sleeping well last night. I let my kids cut/buzz my hair tonight. I was so sick of it coming out all over the place. Found out I have a nice shaped head, but I may need to start wearing some makeup to offset the hair. I know I'll be checking myself out in the mirror for a while. Still can't believe this is all happening sometimes. I'll get my first Neulasta tomorrow. Praying I handle that okay too. Hang in there everybody. Take care.

Eve

katoMato

Hi Girls,

I went to work today, and i think i accomplished something. (One thing.I think.) I am aware that the day took it's toll...how do you girls who work all through this DO IT???

I met someone in the Dr's office who said she worked through out the entire thing. When I said Wow...she said she thought it was nothing at the time, but now she looks back and is astounded that she did.  ja huh.

Hey Harley, how did it go today? Three Down, One to Go...We can make it!

Eve, I'm glad all went well yesterday...I'm finding it's cumulative,(I just got done with 3 out of 4tx) but in a strange way...not just fatigue, but sometimes I just feel stretched thin...like too much, too soon, too big,...can't wrap my brain around life kinda. Yesterday I literally sat on the couch and drooled for no less than three hours. no book, no tv.. just me an my drool.

Until 2:30 when some miraculous thing happened (a thought?) and I knew i would start to feel normal soon. That's why I tried to go in to work today. And it did work for me, I'm glad i did it, but the snapping back part is just not happening. 

But reading all your posts is reminding me that yes, there will be a middle, and yes there will be an end because time does go on. Good or bad, it keeps marching...thanks. I was letting myself be a little overwhelmed.

NOT ALLOWED. ONE day at a time there, Ladies. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Hugs and a silly grin to all you girls. Thanks for being there.

Harley44

Kaye,

How are you doing?  You sound like you are feeling much better.  Yes, we all have our "down" times, and it's ok... we need to give ourselves time to feel what we feel...  that is just an important step in healing, I think...

My chemo went well yesterday.  This was the 1st time my dh came with me.  So, he didn't see me stumbling around afterwards, after getting out of the chair until yesterday... He made a cheap joke at my expense to the coffee shop friends of ours, and I didn't appreciate it...  I guess we will have to go thru lots of adjustments, now that he's back for good... 

So, YES, only ONE more TX!!  I was feeling kind of down before this 3rd tx., wondering if it would ever be over, and I had been feeling so tired, and not sleeping very well.  So, I saw my onc and he gave me a Rx for Ambien.  I will go and get that filled in a little while...  it will be for "just in case" I start having sleeping problems again...

Take care... I have been thinking about you.  Hoping your txs go easily!!!

Hugs

Harley

yellowtownhouse

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while but do read every chance I get.  Tomorrow is tx #4 of A/C.  I'm more frightened than I've ever been.  Tx. # 3 put me in bed for 8 days!  My oncologist agreed to postpone my last A/C for one week due to my weakened condition and tomorrow is it.  But I am staying as positive as I can and keeping it mind that it IS the last d...... A/C and then 4 Taxols, surgery and radiation.  So, after tomorrow I'm 25% thru the planned course of tx.....yea!!!!

Someone asked if anyone was working while on chemo.  I work 4 days a week and have managed except for the last chemo.  But to be perfectly honest, it has almost killed me.  I keep forgetting to ask you all if anyone almost totally spaces out about 20 minutes after they start running your steroid?  I feel as drunk and spaced out and almost have hallucinary type of reaction.  It goes pretty much away about 1 to 1 1/2 hours after they start.  Weird?  Just wondering if again I'm having something most people don't experience and for all your sakes hope you never do.  Glad to hear that over all everyone is hanging in there and doing what it takes to be positive.  You all are such an inspiration to read about.  Wishing each of you a good close to the week and a beautiful and peaceful weekend.

June

nash

June, I'm so glad you posted. I was thinking about you this week and was hoping you were OK. Good luck tomorrow--I hope this round won't be as bad for you. I admire you for going in to work--there's no way I could handle that right now. I work from home, and sometimes even that's quite a chore.

I feel funky when the premeds go in, but I think a lot of it for me is from the Zofran, which makes my eyes go in opposite directions, best I can figure. So I have the drunk feeling, but I'm not sure if it's the steriod or the Zofran. I close my eyes, b/c it's like the room is spinning. Then it passes and I'm fine. So it sounds a little similar to what you're experiencing.

  

Monkeygirl61

Hi all,

Well Kaye I admire you so much that I'm trying to be like you.  No, I didn't get a dog bite but I got a nice long cat scratch down the inside of my big toe.  It was an accident my cat just got startled and freaked out and my foot was in the wrong place.  My Onc wasn't happy and said I should have called Mon and not waited until my appt. Wed.  I'm on Zithromax (500mg) for 7 days, possibly 14. 

He changed 2 of my nausea medicines so I'm hoping that helps.  Today was #3 of 4 ac, then 4 taxol, then 33 radiation.  I'm really not liking what I'm hearing about Taxol.  I thought it was supposed to be easier.  I hear there's leg pain and the procrit shot really stings. 

My blood sugar is 2X what it should be so I don't know if I feel bad because of #3 or my bs.  I have an appointment with my primary to get help on controlling my bs through chemo.  Is anyone else struggling with this?

I feel real funky with the premeds too.  I'm not sure what all my premeds are?  I just got a copy today of my blood counts.  I'm a numbers person so I want to understand what they all mean.

I do hope everyone has a relaxing weekend.  The weather is supposed to be beautiful here on the Eastern Shore of MD.  We have a big festival at Ocean City, hopefully I'll be able to go.

emg326

Hi all,

Anyone had thrush with their treatments? I'm not sure if I have it, but I have a white coating on my tongue. My tx was Monday and don't know if it'd show up that fast. It doesn't look like the pictures I see of it but am just curious if anyone has dealt with it. Seemed to have handled the Neulasta okay. I've been walking every morning, but am so much more tired this time. I guess it was to be expected. Only 2 more tx's to go! Thank God! So weird seeing my bald self in the mirror. Can't wait until this over!  Good luck everyone. Hang in there!

Eve

nash

Tami--steriods can raise blood sugar, so maybe the decadron in the premeds is doing it to you?

Eve--sounds like you possibly could have thrush, although it's pretty painful, so maybe the tongue coating is something else. The chemo nurses told me to rinse my mouth out with liquid acidophelas, which has really been helping me. 

Harley44

Hi Monkeygirl,

I am from Maryland, and we used to go to the Eastern Shore, especially Ocean City, or as we Marylander's say, ... downy ocean, hon... 

Now I live in Carolina Shores, NC  so I am MUCH closer to the beach!  I LOVE IT!!!  I moved last year, in October, and was dx'd with bc in March 2007...  it's been a long haul, but my last tx is on Oct 9th...  and my reconstruction is scheduled for Nov. 7th...  I just had my 3rd of 4 txs of TC...

I also had a cat scratch, but had no ill effects from it.  I have two cats, and they just get excited sometimes...

My dh and I were going to go to a wine festival tomorrow, but I have been feeling kind of bad today, I just had a tx Tuesday, and the Neulasta shot was Wed.  I was just kind of dizzy in the coffee shop, so we went back home, and I am going to just rest, and play on the computer today...

Have a great weekend!

Harley

katoMato

Hello everybody,

All is well. (Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you at this point. The only part i know is "all is well".)

"Cumulative" they said about the TX's. jup. Each cycle the se's are a little the same/a little different, and the overall "cumulative" part is...dude. I can barely function. Day 10 post #3, and I can still hardly do anything. It's all right though, because every day brings us farther away from THATtx,...and nearer to the FINAL one. THEN it doesn't matter what the miserable se's are, because we know we'll be DONE. 

I've been having a little trouble breathing...like my lungs have lost elasticity? I know for a fact I tend to be neurotic about my lungs - long history of lung stuff on my mom's side, but if it wakes me up, it's probably more real than neurosis. Dh did some research and found it's a VERY rare ALLERGIC REACTION of Taxotere. I spoke to my onc and she said if i wanted to she'd order a chest xray for me. I don't think it's bad enough yet. And what do you do anyway, stop treatment?  I'm just thinking that this has seemed cumulative, too. From not being fully aware of it, to this...so what is the effect of the 4th tx going to be? Everything is a weighing game. The tx vs the se's.

So, Yellowtownhouse (June!) - in regard to your questions about the steriod, they don't run mine in the IV. I take it orally twice a day, the day before, the day of and then the day after. I read that's standard for Taxotere. (or was it the Cytoxan?) I read you must have at least 3 doses in you before they do the chemo. USUALLY the steriod makes me feel stronger and more alert and powerful, difficult to sleep, etc. The last two times it was less of that. This last time I don't think I noticed an effect at all. One of the reasons it's given is as an anti-nausea precaution, another is to strengthen you.  The reason I'm interested in this was the "spaced-out" comment. I definately feel spaced-out, even go so far as to say I am the Queen of Spaced-Out normally, and this whole thing has "warp driven" me to another solar system entirely, but I've always thought it was the chemo itself...killing what few brain cells I have left after the Summer(s) of '69, (and '70, and '71, and '72...). But I don't think it's the Steriod. Have you told your onc, or the nurse about it?

Nash - yes...Wall Eyed!!! That must be what it is. It's NOT my brain, I just can't make my EYES go in the same direction!

Did you go to the lunch? (We'd talked about it before, when AT THE TIME it seemed like a great idea!) If you did, I hope you had fun, and i hope you were feeling pretty good. I really want to meet you and say hi, but this month is just not the month for it to happen. It's our 28th anniversary today and I don't even want to go out to dinner. (dinner? I don't even want to get out of my pajamas! SOMEBODY call Domino's.)

Monkeygirl - HEYon the cat scratch! (I'm so flattered! They say imitation is the highest form of compliment.) Have you found the antibiotics are affecting you? I'm having such a hard time snapping back, I thought it might be the antibiotics... How does it look? Is it getting infected? Did you bite the cat back? (sorry. a little dog humor.) ok, we've had the dog, then  the cat...do I hear a bite from a rare endangered species of warthog?? Going ONCE, going TWICE...(We gotta take it up a notch.)

Have fun at Ocean City....dont get bit by any pirranahs. 

Eve - Could the white tongue you're dealing with be something that might be taken care of with the Biotene products? (Found at Albertson's Market, or any pharmacy) Nash had actual thrush, and I guess you need to deal with that differently, but I've had a white coating on my tongue each treatment, lasting from 2 - 3 days later on through the next week. I scrub my tongue when I brush my teeth with the Biotene toothpaste, then swish the Biotene mouthwash around in there and let it sit for 30 seconds. It's sickening sweet, but it seems to work. Maybe if you called a local pharmacist, they could recommend something otc?

Hey Lorene (CTLmom)...how did it go yesterday?...How are you doing today?

Carol - how is your heart? (Emotionally, and physically!) I'll be praying for you for that test monday. Do you have any sypmtoms, or did the Doctor just want to run some tests just to see?

Again - sorry for the tome... I can't even blame the decadron.

Hang in there and let no teeth touch you.

nash

Howdy, Kaye. Glad to hear I'm not the only one feeling sort of drooly. The San Diego lunch is actually tomorrow, and unfortunately the only appointment for getting my wigs styled conflicted with the lunch, so an attempt at looking presentable won out over being sociable. Plus I don't think I'm alert enough to drive all the way down to Old Town where they're meeting. I'm hoping to make October, but like you were saying with the cumulative effects... who knows.  Maybe we should all just plan for when we're done with treatment. I'm a better conversationalist when I'm not feeing stoned and barfy.

Happy Anniversary! 28 years is pretty cool! 

nash

Kaye, wanted to add that I hope your breathing issues resolve. That must be a touch disconcerting. I find myself short of breath from the FAC, but nothing so bad that it wakes me up. Maybe a chest x-ray would be a good idea just to rule other causes out.

katoMato

Upon re-reading her own post, Madam Space has two two corrections:

"I take it orally twice a day, the day before, the day of and then the day after. I read that's standard for Taxotere. (or was it the Cytoxan?)"

 1) The steriod that I take is DECADRON -  The standard procedure is to have the certain dosage of DECADRON in me prior to the chemo drug TAXOTERE. 

There. Clear as mud.

2) The LUNCH, and my ANNIVERSARY are both TOMORROW. Not today.

Sigh. 

I know we're going to make it ladies.

It's just that some of us will be arriving on the wrong day, and others of us will miss the location entirely. 

sheesh! 

katoMato

Nash.

I've known stoned and barfy people who are much less engaging than you.

I find you scintilating.

Somebody else go look it up.  I have a headache.

katoMato

For those of you who may not have seen his post, PixieDust's husband is asking for prayer for her. Stacey....we're praying!

 http://community.breastcancer.org/topic/69/conversation/692481

nash

Thanks, Kaye. Don't know how scintilating you'll find me in person, but I'm sure it's nothing a couple of lemon drop martinis can't resolve.

I really hope Stacey is doing better--I'm praying up a storm. 

katoMato

CAAAARRROOOLLLLL,

Just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you today with the heart test.

My prayer is that they'll find nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing rest, and peace can't cure.

Have a good week, everybody. 

katoMato

Hi Ladies? How's everybody doing?

Cindy, how did the wedding go? 

chemomom

Hi everyone.  I didn't want Kaye to get lonely here!!  I don't know about anyone else, but I am 12 days post tx3 and I have to tell ya... my brain is actually working, I have been productive at work for a couple of days and I think this is the best I have felt in a long time!  I am definitely handling this one better than I did #2.  Don't know why.  I do have random odd pains that I would normally worry about, but I just chalk them up to the chemo and continue on about the day. 

I do still have terrible migraines-- others here have mentioned that too.  Can you please remind me what you all take to prevent migraines and if it seems to work and be worth any side-effects.  My neurologist most recently tried me on an antidepressant called Nortriptyline (or something like that) and said it should hopefully stop the migraines and also help me sleep, etc.  But it hasn't stopped the migraines and I still don't sleep... so I am calling that little experiment a failure.  Although I will keep taking the things until i am told to stop-- I at least know better than to just drop off an antidepressant.  Anyway-- if you ladies have had success stopping migraines from hitting, i'd love to hear how. 

Hope all is well as can be expected for everyone.  Hope to hear from folks soon.  Seems like the boards have been less active lately.... maybe the new crappy format has driven people away.  I hope not.  Have a nice evening everyone.  Angie

wackyjackie

Hi Girls,

How is everyone?  I am getting ready for TX#4 of AC tomm and this is the first time my brain and fingers are coordinated to respond.  I have been on reading, but I just could not get it together.  I got my a-- kicked this treatment.  Just exhaustion and kind of like floating around.  that is the only way to describe it.  oh, and I have a question:  does anyone's eyes tear? just run and tear? it's driving me crazy!!!!

It does seem like the boards are quieter.  I miss hearing from everyone.

Carol--I am so sorry about your deep loss.  Sorry this is the first time I could reach out to you, I read it, cried and prayed.  My sincerest prayers to you and your family.  There must be some reason for this horror, but I can't think of why.  They must be special angels watching over you now.  Stay strong.

Harley-how are you?

Has anyone heard how Stacey is doing? I am so worried about her.

It's so scary.  Especially this time of the year when it seems every other person has a sore throat or cold!

Kaye- I was frozen with horror when I heard about your bite. I am petrified of dogs...well, all animals.  Except lady bugs(LOL!).  Thank goodness all is okay with you.

To all you other girls, whose names I can't remember right now--I don't know how I would get through any of this without all of you. You all push me along and keep me strong.

Love and lots and lots of hugs to all,

Jackie

katoMato

Angie, you sound great! Glad to hear you're doing so well...minus the headaches, of course...sorry about them.

For Migraines I use something I've used for a few years. Relpax. It doesn't prevent them, but it does get rid of them once I even THINK I'm starting to get one. I used to need about one a month - once I took it, that took care of it and it didn't come back for about a month. Since bc, I've needed to take one and they seemed to come back the next day, so I took another one...and so on for about 3 or 4 days...Oddly, after this 3rd tx I haven't needed even one. I've read a se of Zofran is headaches, and I've taken much less Zofran this time, so that could be the culprit. I think Harley takes it too, since all this....Harley, do they work for you???   (BTW, it doesn't help my daughter's migraines at all.)

katoMato

Hey Jackie - yeah it seems like things have been quiet.

This last tx did me in too..."exhaused and floating around" is a good way to put it, although Nash nailed it: "Stoned and Barfy". I don't know what it was for me this time, the dog bite, the heavy antibiotic, the cumulative effects or the extra TEN pounds I've gained...but I'm NOT happy. An' if Mama ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy. I had cut back on the Zofran because I wanted a little LESS junk in my system, and the good news is that I've had NO headaches, the bad news is that I've loitered around the city of Barfaritaville. Not actually a resident there, but in clear view of the habitants. I'm completely better now, but I'm so used to sitting on the couch that now I don't WANT to get up and function. I LIKE to sit there and drool and burp. (Excuse me, would someone mind slapping me?)

ok. TODAY, dh and I are going to walk after dinner. 

Yes, my eyes tear, and TWITCH! It has driven me insane. (I'm there now. It's 25 kilometers south of Barfaritaville.) BOTH eyes, ALL the time. (Wait, I don't think it happens in my sleep...) And there is no remedy except patience. (That I know of...maybe it's one of those things Benedryl might help? never used it.) 

And I've been concerned about Stacey too...I don't think her husband has posted since then, and Carol too...I want to know about that heart test, darnit!

I'll be praying for you tomorrow. This will be #4, but how many do you still have to have?

Stay well,  

katoMato

Hey Tami (Monkeygirl!)

How's the cat scratch going? Any infection? I hope not.

You can hardly tell I was bitten at all. It's a little irritating...how can I garner sympathy for all my trauma when this bite looks like a 1/16th inch paper cut? He was a BIG, FULL GROWN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG. And all I get out of it is a paper cut?

sheesh. 

wackyjackie

hey kaye,

my eye twitches too and everyone thinks i'm crying all the time!!!i can't get off the couch either! i just told my husband--we have a sectional--that i'll have to call and replace this one section when all this is over...LOL. He even tells me, "Assume the position"!! How bad is that?And then I do.  I have a lot of motivation in my mind, but I move in little spurts.  But...I feel okay otherwise.  I have 4 more tx after tomm and then radiation.  is next week your last treatment? Hang in there and be strong. Enjoy your walk.

Hugs, Jackie(wacky)

Harley44

Jackie,

I am doing ok.  Had more problems this time with bad lower back pain and neck and shoulder pain, too... I guess from Neulasta.  My tx#3 was Sept. 18th.  Only ONE more tx to go... Oct 9th!!   Only two more weeks til then, but who's counting?!   lol

So, Jackie, you are HALFWAY THROUGH!!  YIPPEE!

Sorry about the eyes twitching... eyes have been tearing due to the Taxotere, but I don't have twitching...

I am also getting more tired each tx...  but so far, not too bad!

I have even resorted to taking a sleeping pill some nights, since I am having trouble sleeping, because of the steroids we have to take.

Take care,

Harley

emg326

I was wondering about the twitching. I have had 2 of 4 tx's of TC and my eyes, hands and feet sometimes twitch. My hand is doing it right now as I type. It's annoying, but I haven't been barfy so I won't complain. My tx was last Mon., and I've been walking 45-60 min. everyday which seems to help. Otherwise, I'm just kind of tired and out of it. Hang in there everybody. We'll get there.

Eve

Harley44

Eve

I have tearing of my eyes, but no twitching so far.  I am also getting 4 txs of TC, and have just finished tx #3.  I'll be getting tx #4 on Oct. 9th, so ALMOST FINISHED!!!  WHOHOO!!

Yes, the fatigue has been getting worse...

Harley

katoMato

Wow Eve,

Twitchy hands and feet too? That's a drag...(but the mental imagery is amusing, sorry! If you could control it, maybe you could wash the windows and mop the floor at the same time? The real trick would be to figure out how to do that while the rest of your body stays on the couch.)

You're right. At least you're not barfy - That's a BIG PLUS.

The WALKING you do is so great!! No, dh and I didn't go last night...his heels hurt pretty bad (that was his excuse anyway) with Plantar Fascaitis...(sp?). He's a diabetic so he's GOT to get some excercise...and I was WAY TOO EASILY  disuaded from going. OK. I'm inspired. TONIGHT, without fail.